Without proper regulatory oversight, SD becomes a safe haven for untrained and unqualified practitioners. Patients deserve the right to know that their practitioners have proper training, education, professional ethics, board certification, and ongoing training that ensures that they receive the highest quality care. Acupuncture has been proven to be an effective and affordable treatment option for chronic pain, opioid use/abuse, PTSD/depression/anxiety, and acute pain conditions. The practice of acupuncture is currently being utilized within the Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration, large medical centers, and, most recently, has been adopted into Medicare coverage for the treatment of chronic low back pain. In South Dakota, the VA Healthcare System has already contracted with several private acupuncture practices around the state for many years to provide quality, non-pharmacological treatment to thousands of veterans in need. In states that have recently adopted acupuncture practice acts, the state has seen a nearly immediate increase in the number of professional acupuncturists moving to the state and contributing to commerce, as well as expanding access to treatment for the residents. Acupuncture regulation is good for state economic growth and development, as well as direct patient care. Please tell SD legislators that it is time to save South Dakota acupuncture!

Our democracy is at stake.

The fiasco created by the Iowa caucuses could be just a preview of what’s to come -- if we don’t get serious about securing our election systems right now. Caucus-goers tried to make their voices heard, showing up and speaking out for the presidential candidate they believe in. But the night quickly devolved into chaos -- as officials tried to use a new, untested app to report the results. Precinct leaders struggled to use the app. Many hadn’t been trained on it at all. And as a result, nobody could be certain that their vote was going to count. The only thing that prevented a complete electoral disaster? Tried-and-true paper ballots, which election officials could recount by hand. As other states gear up for their primary elections, we must pressure election officials to implement the strong, simple solutions that protect our democracy: paper trails and risk-limiting audits. Anything run on a computer can be hacked or experience glitches -- so these backups are essential to make sure the final results are accurate. Add your name to tell election officials nationwide: if we can’t count on you to conduct elections that are free, fair, and accurate -- then we don’t have a real democracy anymore. Every election must include paper ballots and risk-limiting audits.

Our national debt is out of control. His travel has racked up millions of taxpayer dollars and has benefited his organization expeditiously. The previously administration spent $70 million on travel over eight years! He has no conscience when it comes to spending others money. All of us are paying for him to attend Republican rallies and that should be paid for by his party. Not independents and democrats. It's time to open the books for Americans to see these expenses and the appropriations committee to reign in these excessive expenses to start.

The issue with Gun Violence has gotten out of control and we believe this program will help reduce the numbers drastically. The need for the Prevention of these crimes has become undeniable and we have conducted our own research to get us to the point we could design a program able to make a change. The commitment to change has to come from the individuals in the program and then we can proceed with the transformation. Our research leads us to believe that we must guide each person through the process and take the responsibility to make sure each one makes it through successfully. Obstacles in life always jump up and distract those in the process of changing so it's imperative that we anticipate these things and be there with the necessary adjustments needed to complete their change. Graduating them to a good paying job, life skills and a stable place for them to live and grow will show them they have already made the change from the type of people who would throw it all away to the ones that think things through and value what they have to lose. This is how we create better members of society is from making them proud to be a part of this society. This is how we will Save Our Streets, we must challenge everyone to do their part in making this work. Therefore we are initiating this challenge to everyone in the community from business owners and our corporate community to the volunteers and mentors who plan to be more hands on with the members of our program. We believe it will take a village to solve this matter and we must be committed to our community to change it. Written by: Steven Lamar

If you have kids in high school, they’ve probably read Orwell’s 1984. But now, they’ll get the chance to live in a real-world tech dystopia. Tech startups are quietly selling facial recognition services to high schools across the country. And the potential danger for students, especially students of color, is too troubling to just sit idly by. Facial recognition in schools also gives administrators the unprecedented ability to track and monitor students in real time, during some of the most formative years of their lives. What’s worse: as minors, students may not have any legal recourse to protect themselves from the racial flaws within facial recognition systems.

While the Florida sport and commercial fishing community is extremely appreciative of the efforts of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's efforts, it is quite unlikely that even a majority percentage of violators are caught in the act. Clearly, the current structure of fines and jail time are not enough of a deterrent and a stronger deterrent is necessary to help maintain our fisheries as the population of our state continues to increase.

They lied and cheated in 2016 and they are trying to cheat again.

Let the will of the people be heard! The last time you meddled in the primary, you ended up choosing a candidate who was not as strong against Donald Trump. The trend in polling shows that Bernie can beat Trump by the largest margin. Do not stand in the way of democracy and the will of the American people! We are watching you!

The recent first time in history vote by 51 Republican Senators to disallow witnesses, testimony, or pertinent documents in an impeachment trial after taking an oath to be fair and impartial has shown that we need a quick remedy to remove violations as stipulated in the petition. The blatant and dishonest violation of their oath should be remedied by removal from office. Their actions endanger our Republic.

On the weekend of January 31-February 1, 2020, Regina Marston had a Twitter meltdown that began with her attacking Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). In the ensuing tweet storm Marston revealed herself to be racist and possessing poor judgment. Nominally, Marston is a communications professional. Marston provided enough incriminating info on herself that she will not be electable in a general election. (The incumbent is Rep. Ken Calvert (GOP).)

The Safari Club International will be meeting in Reno, Nevada this month for Safari Club International’s annual convention. This convention features trophy hunting opportunities and wildlife "trophies" or parts and products derived from wild animals. The Safari Club International has historically promoted and supported the killing of species for no use other than as "trophies." It has recently worked to prevent the protection of gray wolves and giraffes under the Endangered Species Act; most alarmingly, the Safari Club International supported the Trump Administration's revisions to its responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act. These revisions–that the Safari Club International loudly supported–will limit habitat protections, make protecting species from climate change more difficult, and allow economic cost of protection to be a guiding factor in future species protection decisions. These changes are the gravest attack on the Endangered Species Act in decades and the Safari Club International supported them through advocacy and lobbying. The Beach Boys should not endorse this culture of killing and extinction and should cancel their appearance at the Safari Club International convention.